Strand separating and stripping apparatus

ABSTRACT

An improved form of strand separating and stripping apparatus for an open-ended strand spinning system employs the integral formation, in a common housing, of an internal bore for supporting a toothed strand separating cylinder and an elongated external passage through the housing. The passage serves as an air duct for accelerating strands discharged from the cylinder toward a rotary yarn spinning chamber. The bore and the passage intersect in a strand stripping zone. A first boundary edge of the zone is shaped to smoothly discharge the strands into the passage. A wall section of the passage terminating at the first boundary edge is made removable from the housing to permit interchange of differently shaped first edges, and such wall section may be made axially movable in the housing to permit adjustment of the width of the zone.

United States Patent [19] Doudlebsky et al.

[451 Nov. 4, 1975 STRAND SEPARATING AND STRIPPING APPARATUS [73] Assignee: Vyzkumny ustav bavlnarsky, Usti nad Orlici, Czechoslovakia [22] Filed: Oct. 1, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 402,202

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3,712,042 l/l973 Chrtek et al 57/58.95 3,728,853 4/1973 Schiltknecht 57/5895 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,172,561 10/1958 France l9/89 Primary Examiner-Dorsey Newton [57] ABSTRACT An improved form of strand separating and stripping apparatus for an open-ended strand spinning system employs the integral formation, in a common housing, of an internal bore for supporting a toothed strand separating cylinder and an elongated external passage through the housing. The passage serves as an air duct Oct. 2, 1972 Czechoslovakia 6649-72 for a l rating strands discharged from the cylinder toward a rotary yarn spinning chamber. The bore and [52] U.S. Cl. 19/65 R; 19/105 h p ge in ersect in a strand stripping zone. A first [51] Int. Cl. D01G 5/00 boundary edge of the zone is shaped to smoothly dis- [58] Field of Search 19/96, 105, 89, 65 R; h g h r n in o the pa sage. A wall section of 57/5891, 58,95 the passage terminating at the first boundary edge is made removable from the housing to permit inter- [56] References Cited change of differently shaped first edges, and such wall UNITED STATES PATENTS section may be made axially movable in the housing to 3,439,488 4/1969 Bucil et al 19/105 x perm adjustment of the with of the Zone 3,696,605 10/ 1972 Morikawa et a1 57/5895 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures a ramp/9:350

US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 0f 2 3,916,485

PRESSED Sheet 2 of 2 3,916,485

US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 STRAND SEPARATING AND STRIPPING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the art of yarn manufacture, fibrous strand slivers to be spun into yarn are conventionally separated by a rotating, externally toothed cylinder and are thereafter discharged into an adjacent air duct viaa fiber separating blade. The air duct is subjected to a downstream jet of air to accelerate the strands into a rotary spinning chamber where the strands are collected at high velocity and spun into yarn.

While successive improvements in such apparatus have been evalued over the course of many years, several disadvantages therein still exist. For example, the discharge of the separated strands tends to be somewhat impeded by the separating' blade, and in some cases the strands tend to adhere to the blade. Additionally, the discharged strands frequently rebound from the opposite wall of the duct back toward the separating cylinder. Cumulatively, such effects tend to crimp and deform, and/or slow down the motion ofthe strands. This results in a high strand breakage rate, strand unevenness, nap formation and generally low quality yarn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These drawbacks may be eliminated with the improved construction of a strand conveying and stripping apparatus in accordance with the present invention. In an illustrative embodiment, a housing containing an internal bore, in which the toothed separating cylinder may be rotatably mounted is provided integrally with a second elongated internal passage extending through the housing. The passage serves as an air duct through which an air flow of selectable velocity may be directed. The passage intersects the bore in an arcuate region that serves as a fiber stripping zone. A first one of the resulting boundary edges of the stripping zone forms the discharge end of an annular work space between the cylinder and the bore. Such first boundary edge is suitably shaped to effect a smooth and streamlined discharge of the separated strands into the integrally formed air duct. Such streamlined discharge, together with the selected air flow velocity, prevents contact of the strands with the duct walls.

Advantageously, a portion of the duct wall terminating in the first boundary edge is made removable with respect to the housing so that various shapes of the first edge may be readily interchanged. Such wall portion may also be made movable in the housing to effectively position the first edge relative to the opposite boundary edge, thereby permitting adjustment of the zone width.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be further set forth in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an open-ended strand spinning system having strand separation and stripping facilites that include an integrally formed strand stripping zone in accordance with the invention; and

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are fragmented sectional views respectively illustrating different shapes for the strand discharge boundary edge of the stripping zone of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates an arrangement 101 for separating and stripping a plurality of fibrous strand slivers 88 and for thereafter accelerating such strands at high velocity into a spinning chamber 5 or other twist forming device. The chamber 5 is externally rotatable via a shaft 53 to spin strands introduced therein into yarn into a conventional manner. The chamber 5 includes a sloping side wall 51 for efficiently receiving the accelerated strands and for positioning such strands on a collecting surface 52.

The separating and stripping arrangement 101 includes a main housing 1 having an internal cylindrical bore or cavity 11. The bore 11 communicates with an outer surface 102 of the housing 1 via an opening 103.

Disposed within the opening 103 is a strand advancing section 104 including a separately rotatable roller 3. A shoe 31 is urged against the periphery of the roller 3 by a spring 33 for advancing the strands 8 which are introduced therebetween via a funnel 32.

The strands advanced by the section 104 are introduced into an inlet region 106 of an annular work space 12. The work space 12 is defined between the periphery of the bore 11 and the periphery of'a strand separating cylinder 2 rotatably mounted within the bore 11.

The cylinder periphery includes a toothed region 21 which, when rotating past the inlet area 106 of the work space 12, engages the incoming strands 8 and conveys them around the work space 12 to be discharged into an air duct 41. During such passage around the work space 12, the strands are subjected to an air flow directed circumferentially around the cylinder 2 in the direction of an arrow 107 by suitable means (not shown) to aid in the separation of the strands.

The duct 41 is defined by an elongated internal passage extending through the housing in a downstream direction (defined by an arrow R) between a first end 108 and a second end 109. The duct 41 intersects the bore 11 in an arcuate strand stripping zone 42. The zone 42 has a first boundary edge 111 forming a discharge end of the work space 12, and a second boundary edge 43 downstream of the first edge 111.

The edge 111 is suitably shaped to permit an unimpeded streamlined discharge of the separated strands via the zone 42 into the duct 41 in the direction of an arrow S. The strand discharge is effected by inertial forces caused by the rotation of the cylinder 2 past the edge 111.

Air or other suitable carrier gas from a source is propelled downstream by suitable means through the duct 41 to accelerate the strands entering the duct through the stripping zone 42. Such acceleration may be aided, and a degree of straightening of the strands accomplished, by suitably shaping and positioning the downstream edge 43 of the zone 42 in the air flow path to cause a localized increase in the air flow velocity. Such air flow velocity (controllable, e.g., via a vane 411) together with the streamlined discharge path of the strands through the zone 42, prevents any collision of the strands with the walls of the duct 41.

While the edge 111 may be formed integrally with the main housing, it is advantageous to form a portion of the duct wall extending from the end 108 to the edge 111 as a removable section 6. The section 6 may be affixed to the housing 1 via a screw 121. In this way, various different shapes of the edge 111 may be selectively employed to optimize conditions for the particular characteristics of the depicted apparatus or of the strands being spun into yarn.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the edge 111 may alternatively-exhibit a planar shape, a concavely curved shape and a convexly curved shape, respectively.

If desired, the wall section 6 may be made movable axially (i.e., in an upstream-downstream path) with respect to the housing 1 to provide limited movement of the edge 1 1 1 relative to the edge 43, thereby permitting adjustment of the width of the zone 42. Such axial adjustment may be made, e.g., by suitable retraction or advancing of the screw 121. For example, a retraction of the screw will permit a corresponding retraction of the wall section 6 to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, thereby increasing the effective width of the zone 42.

In the foregoing, the invention has been described in connection with a preferred arrangement thereof. Various modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. it is accordingly desired that the scope of the appended claims not be limited to the specific disclosure herein contained.

What is claimed is:

1. In a strand separating and stripping apparatus:

a housing having an internal bore and an elongated internal passage extending through the housing, the passage intersecting the bore to define an adjustable width strand stripping zone having first upstream and second downstream boundary edges,

the passage including a wall section whose downstream end defines the first boundary edge and which is adjustably receivable by the housing to correspondingly adjust the stripping zone; means for adjustably supporting said wall section for axial movement in said housing to correspondingly vary the width of the stripping zone; cylinder rotatably mounted within the bore and having a plurality of external comb elements disposed on the periphery thereof, said periphery being spaced from the periphery of the bore by an arcuate work space into which strands may be introduced, such strands being discharged from the work space through the stripping zone and into the passage when the cylinder is rotated; and

means for propelling a gas axially downstream through the passage for conveying the discharged strands at a relatively high velocity. I

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the first boundary edge defines a planar surface diverging from the cylinder.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the first boundary edge defines a convexly curved surface diverging from the cylinder.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the first boundary edge defines a concavely curved surface diverging from the cylinder.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the wall section is removably receivable in the housing in engagement therewith to form a unitary assembly. 

1. In a strand separating and stripping apparatus: a housing having an internal bore and an elongated internal passage extending through the housing, the passage intersecting the bore to define an adjustable width strand stripping zone having first upstream and second downstream boundary edges, the passage including a wall section whose downstream end defines the first boundary edge and which is adjustably receivable by the housing to correspondingly adjust the stripping zone; means for adjustably supporting said wall section for axial movement in said housing to correspondingly vary the width of the stripping zone; a cylinder rotatably mounted within the bore and having a plurality of external comb elements disposed on the periphery thereof, said periphery being spaced from the periphery of the bore by an arcuate work space into which strands may be introduced, such strands being discharged from the work space through the stripping zone and into the passage when the cylinder is rotated; and means for propelling a gas axially downstream through the passage for conveying the discharged strands at a relatively high velocity.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the first boundary edge defines a planar surface diverging from the cylinder.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the first boundary edge defines a convexly curved surface diverging from the cylinder.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the first boundary edge defines a concavely curved surface diverging from the cylinder.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the wall section is removably receivable in the housing in engagement therewith to form a unitary assembly. 